Partners

Centre for Retail Studies – Bifröst University, Iceland

The mission of the Centre for Retail Studies is to support the Icelandic retail and tourism sectors by providing stakeholders with practical analysis, statistics, improved education and know-how, aimed at supporting factual and accurate decision making and promotion of vocational education. At the core of the centres operations are international projects through which it has collaborated on developing new products, learning models and services and engaged in knowledge transfer programmes.

Bifröst University, Iceland

Bifröst University (BU) is an institution of considerable diversity, which offers its students training in business, law, and social sciences, and prepares them for positions of responsibility and leadership. Today the number of students in Bifrost University is around 1.300 students. The University focuses on continuous training in collaboration with the retail and service sector. The university has initiated unique life-long-learning programmes with great success, for instance education for tourist business management. The Centre for Retail Studies, which is a foundation within Bifröst University, has been highly involved in this development process, by performing requirement analysis, testing, networking with educational bodies and institutions in other Scandinavian countries, implementing vocational educational solutions and arranging meetings and conferences to increase the awareness of these issues.

► www.bifrost.is
► Emil Karlsson, emil@bifrost.is

BEST, Austria

BEST Institut für berufsbezogene Weiterbildung und Personaltraining GmbH (www.best.at) was founded in 1990 as an independent Austrian organisation for continuous training, vocational qualification and career services. Its main activities comprise the development of innovative training programmes for young (+16) individuals and adults, many of them disadvantaged and with migration background, continuous and vocational training, counselling & coaching and activation for job seekers and employees.

Within tourism, BEST has already worked on several topics of relevance in the sector within international projects as well as on national level, where it offers a variety of tourism-related training and support services.

► www.best.at
► Karin Kronika, karin.kronika@best.at

CESIE, Italy

CESIE – is a non-profit, a political, and secular non-governmental organisation with member organisations in more than eight European countries. It was established in 2001, inspired by the work and theories of the pacifist Danilo Dolci (1924-1997). CESIE contributes, through the active participation of people, civic society and institutions, towards the promotion of growth and development, always valuing diversity. CESIE links local, national and international contexts and is committed to stimulating development and change in cultural, educational and economic spheres through the creation and use of innovative tools and methods.

At local level, CESIE developed strong links with interesting stakeholders that are committed in the field of sustainable tourism and in safeguarding of Sicilian traditions and culinary heritage.

► cesie.org
► Dorothea Urban, dorothea.urban@cesie.org

Samtök Ferðaþjónustunnar, Iceland

The Icelandic Travel Industry Association SAMTÖK FERÐAÞJÓNUSTUNNAR (SAF) is the mutual venue of Icelandic companies operating in the field of travel and tourism. Its purpose is to promote and protect the common interest of the membership and to work towards improved proficiency of both staff and management. The Association works towards the growth and development of the tourism industry with a professional attitude and an emphasis on quality and environmental concerns. Participation is open to all companies working in the travel and tourism industry and all members have valid permits for their operation where such permits are applicable.

SAF has been active in promoting improved education in the tourist industry for the past nine years following an extensive need analysis for the industry in 2006. SAF has produced 2 curricula which give credits into the formal educational system for people with no formal education working in tourism.

► www.saf.is
► María Guðmundsdóttir, maria@saf.is

Kajaanin Ammattikorkeakoulu Oy, Finland

Kajaanin Ammattikorkeakoulu Oy (KAMK) is a University of Applied Sciences offering higher education for experts, support professional growth and carries on R & D activities. KAMK develops and offers adult education to maintain and strengthen working life skills. KAMK’s profile, operations and organizational structure are based on five areas of competence. The competence areas are linked to the fields of focus by expertise.

Activity tourism is one of the competence areas and one of the fields of focus. Activity tourism combines tourism and sport both in education and in R&D. KAMK research, development and innovation work supports enterprises and business life locally, nationally and, in its fields of focus, also internationally. KAMK is an importent actor at the regional development of the Kainuu region. Most of its projects are collaborative undertakings with private companies, education and research institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations and other bodies.

► www.kamk.fi/en
► Kaisa Merilahti, kaisa.merilahti@kamk.fi